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Commercial and Institutional Water Consumption, 1999

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Abstract

Commercial consumers are businesses, and institutional users such as government agencies, schools, and hospitals. Apartment buildings are also included in this section since these are normally operated by businesses. Next to residential uses, commercial and institutional consumption makes up the largest part of municipal water use. On per capita basis, consumption rates are highest in Prince Edward Island and in New Brunswick, and lowest in Manitoba.


Next to residential uses, commercial consumption makes up the largest part of municipal water use. Commercial consumers are businesses, and institutional users such as government agencies, schools and hospitals. The commercial sector also includes water consumed in some residential units, namely apartment buildings, as these are normally operated by businesses.

Figure 1 shows that commercial use is about 18% of all municipal water use in Canada (as of 1994).

Pie Chart of Municipal Water Use by Sector, 1994[D]
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Figure 1. Municipal Water Use by Sector, 1994

Figure 2 gives a regional breakdown of commercial water use. On a per capita basis, consumption rates are highest in Prince Edward Island and in New Brunswick, and lowest in Manitoba.

Bar Graph of Commercial Water Use per Capita by Province and Territory, 1996[D]
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Figure 2. Commercial Water Use per Capita by Province and Territory, 1996